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Star-Cross Cookies Part 2

#FanFic #AscendanceOfABookworm #HanneloresFifthYear
#Wss366 Crossed #Tanabata #StarFestival #MastoPrompt Clicked

Anime Spoilers

“Milburn, what are those?” she asked the chef.

“Those would be pickles, Your Grace. They’re for Star-Cross Day.”

He took down a jar without further instruction, something he would never have done for another noble, let alone the Aub. But Rozemyne was different. She was relaxed about etiquette and had an insatiable curiosity.

He opened the vessel, releasing the smell of vinegar, wine, and spices. Then he reached in extracting a large, flat, brown bug. “This is a coach beetle,” he said, showing it to her.

“Ughhh.” Her response was involuntary as revulsion swept over her. To her, it looked like a giant cockroach. It was definitely something that did not belong in the kitchen.

"Why would you eat that?" she asked, scrunching up her face.

“I suppose you wouldn’t know, Your Grace. Next week is a local holiday celebrating the twin stars #crossing the River of Light and uniting. You must know the legend of Vegalinde and Altairhart. It’s considered an auspicious day for proposals. It is said that if your partner eats one of these, they’ll never stop loving you. Young men make quite a show of swallowing them.”

Rozemyne’s first thought was,"Yuck! Why cockroaches?” Then, "Wait, Tanabata! A weaver and a herdsman separated by a celestial river? Has someone else from Japan visited Alexandria before me?”

The chef continued, “When these little devils mate, the male rides around on the female’s back for weeks. That’s how they got the name coach beetle. Some people believe that men who eat them will be as faithful as the beetles themselves.”

Rozemyne thanked him and departed. “I know one thing: I’m not giving Ferdinand one of those. Revolting!” she said to herself.

The thought of her subjects eating cockroaches wouldn't leave the Aub’s mind. "What a dreadful tradition! Star-Cross Day deserves better. It’s like a Tanabata and Valentine's hybrid. Giving chocolates or making wishes would make more sense than eating bugs!”

Her thoughts continued as she mulled over the problem, "Unfortunately, there isn’t anything similar to chocolate in this universe, but giving sweets to your love sounds just as nice. What could I create for women to give to their favorite person?”

"Mochi.”She’d just introduced that, but it was difficult to make, and the grain was expensive. Ferdinand said they should reserve it for nobles for the time being. Next, she thought of heart-shaped sugar candies. Clear, sparkly red hearts would be cute, but perfecting them would take time.

Then it #clicked

[Continued Wednesday]

#TootFic #NMFic #Serial #Yuri #GL #Bookworm #HanneloresFifthYear